A Holiday Season Cruise on Nile Seray

Cairo conjures images of monuments that truly stand outside of time: the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, the treasures of Tutankhamun’s tomb. Beyond the remnants of ancient glories lies a bustling, bursting metropolis, with spacious tree-lined boulevards and souks fragrant with cinnamon and sumac. A private transfer brings you to your luxury hotel.

The Giza Plateau is Egypt at its most iconic, with the pyramids of Mycerinus and Chephren, and the Great Pyramid presiding eternally over the desert sands. Step inside one of these ancient tombs and explore the chambers of the pharaohs. Then, enjoy special private access to the Great Sphinx, seizing the rare opportunity to lay your hands on its massive paws. This evening, join your fellow guests for a welcome dinner.

Your expert A&K Egyptologist guides you on an exploration of the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum, a showcase of over 100,000 artifacts dating back millennia, including the treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb.

Fly to Abu Simbel, where you find yourself face to face with the commanding twin temples of Ramses II and his wife, Queen Nefertari. The former’s façade is dominated by four 70-foot-tall statues of the pharaoh. The entire site was disassembled and moved here to save it from the floodwaters caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam. Continue by air to Aswan, where you board your five-star riverboat, Nile Seray, welcomed by a Zaffa musical procession. Sail by traditional felucca around Elephantine Island, declared a World Heritage Site on account of its many archaeological digs, continuing to Lord Kitchener’s Botanical Gardens and the hilltop Agha Khan Mausoleum.

In Aswan, a short trip by motorboat takes you to Agilika Island, set in the reservoir created by the Old Aswan Dam. Its construction in 1902 led to the partial flooding of the Philae temple complex, which was relocated to Agilika and painstakingly reassembled. Explore the island’s monumental structures, known for their striking hieroglyphic reliefs, before visiting the Granite Quarries that supplied most of the hard stone used by the ancient Egyptians to build pyramids, temples and obelisks. Sail to Kom Ombo to visit its magnificent temple, dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek. Afternoon tea beckons in the lounge, followed by dinner and a movie night, whetting your appetite for exploring the temples of Edfu.

Today, view the Temple of Horus, falcon-headed god of the sky. Once buried in sand and debris, this stunningly well-preserved and colorful structure reveals what temple worship in ancient Egypt was like. Cruise to Luxor over lunch, passing the time with a cooking demonstration from your onboard chef. Your archaeological odyssey continues with a visit to the Temple of Luxor to learn about the god Amun, to whom it is dedicated. Back on board, don a traditional galabeyya robe for a gala dinner, followed by music and dancing.

Start today at the Temple of Karnak, where generations of pharaohs wished to record their names. Walk through the Great Hypostyle Hall, strolling among its expertly aligned columns, which soar 80 feet high. Explore the West Bank of the Nile with your Egyptologist guide, taking advantage of rare, behind-the-velvet-rope access to hidden treasures of the Valley of the Kings, including the burial sites of Seti I and Ramses VI. Discover the tombs of Tutankhamun and Amenhotep III during a private opening in the early evening. Pass the imposing Colossi of Memnon en route back to your riverboat. Your river cruise concludes with a gala dinner complete with white-gloved waiters serving gourmet cuisine, along with a whirling dervish show.

Fly back to Cairo. After lunch, view the royal mummies and countless other artifacts as you tour the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.

Explore Sakkara, site of hundreds of tombs and 14 pyramids, including the famous Step Pyramid of Djoser. Enjoy a special private opening of the 4,400-year-old tomb of Wahtye. Unearthed in 2018, it is completely untouched and filled with painted hieroglyphics, sculptures and inscriptions. Gather for a memorable farewell dinner to celebrate the end of your adventure.

After breakfast, take your private transfer to the airport to board your departing flight.